Tuesday, April 9, 2013

For years, the healthcare community has known that colonoscopies
reduce the incidence of colon and rectal cancer, but a recent study
published in TheNew England Journal of Medicine provides
convincing evidence that colonoscopies actually reduce mortality. The
death rate in patients whose precancerous polyps had been removed who
were tracked for 20 years was reduced by 53 percent – a significant
reduction in cancer-related mortality.
Holy Name Medical Center gastroenterologist Susan
Fishbein, MD, commenting on the results of the research, noted that
“This is very important data. It’s the first time a study has shown
conclusively that colonoscopies and removal of cancerous polyps reduce
mortality. It’s proof that we all really must have colonoscopies!”
Colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be
prevented by regular screening, yet it is the second most common cause
of cancer-related death in the United States. Fewer than 60% of
Americans over the age of 50 have had a screening colonoscopy or
sigmoidoscopy in the past 10 years. Dr. Fishbein laments the statistic.
“Colon cancer is a terrible disease. But it is so preventable.”
She recommends that individuals with no family or
personal history of colon cancer have a screening colonoscopy when they
reach the age of 50. If the results are good, Dr. Fishbein believes it
is prudent to have a second screening in seven or eight years, rather
than the usually recommended 10 years, since it takes about 10 years for
a normal colon to develop cancer. If a polyp is found in the initial
screening, a second colonoscopy is recommended in one to five years,
depending on the pathologist’s report. If there is a family history of
colon cancer, the initial screening should occur by age 40 or 10 years
earlier than the age when the family member developed cancer – whichever
is younger, according to Dr. Fishbein, who has been screening patients
in Holy Name’s Endoscopy Suite for more than 12 years and praises the
staff as “top-notch.”
Colonoscopy preparation requires colon-cleansing, and
nourishment during prep is usually limited to clear liquids – gelatin,
clear broth or black coffee. Dr. Fishbein agrees that nothing fibrous
may be consumed before a colonoscopy, but she does permit consumption of
anything that can melt: milk in the coffee, even ice cream or milk
shakes! (A sip of milk shake would certainly make colon prep a bit more
palatable for me!)
Although we can’t change our genetic makeup or reduce all
the health risks we face, it makes sense to commit to regular colon
screenings. A colonoscopy can save your life. Just do it!

For a referral to Dr. Fishbein or another Holy Name physician, call 1-877-HOLY-NAME (1-877-465-9626) or visit www.holyname.org.

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Holy Name Medical Center is a fully accredited, not-for-profit healthcare facility based in Teaneck, New Jersey, with off-site locations throughout Bergen County. Founded and sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1925, the comprehensive 361-bed medical center offers leading-edge medical practice and technology administered in an environment rooted in a tradition of compassion and respect for every patient. Holy Name provides high quality health care across a continuum that encompasses education, prevention, early intervention, comprehensive treatment options, rehabilitation and wellness maintenance—from pre-conception through end-of-life.